Coming off a disappointing season that saw Arkansas finish with a 4-8 (1-7 SEC) overall record, head coach Sam Pittman and the rest of the Razorbacks' coaching staff set out to make considerable changes to the roster through the 2024 high school recruiting class.
With 16 signees, Pittman hopes that the scholarship newcomers will help in the effort to turn around the program in the wake of the new 12-team College Football Playoff structure.
HawgBeat will profile each of the new freshmen from the 34th nationally ranked recruiting class to help fans familiarize themselves with the fresh faces on the roster ahead of spring practice and the 2024 season.
Next up, we will look at four-star running back Braylen Russell out of Benton.
Note: 2024 four-star WR signee Ashton Bethel-Roman has been released from his letter of intent, a team spokesperson confirmed to HawgBeat.
Ranked as the 4th overall player in the state of Arkansas and 22nd at his position, Russell received offers from programs like Baylor, Kansas State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M before ultimately committing to the Razorbacks on July 14, 2023.
Standing at 6-foot-1, 240-pounds, Russell is a behemoth in the backfield and can bulldoze opposing defenders while maintaining enough quickness to burst through the line of scrimmage and make guys miss.
"Bobby (Petrino) and I were sitting there watching his tape, and we think he can play right now," head coach Sam Pittman said after national signing day. "He's got the size, the physicality. He loves the state of Arkansas, the university, great parents. But I'll tell you, he's got the size and the physicality.
As a senior, Russell put up video game numbers with 1,359 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 167 attempts. He added another 18 receptions for 351 receiving yards and five scores.
"He's really, really improved, in my opinion, over the last year," Pittman said. "Didn't have to have -- his statistics may not be world beaters because they didn't have to use him -- they had a really good ball club. But I think he has a chance to play for us this year."
Russell will join a running back room that includes returnees Rashod Dubinion, Dominique Johnson and Isaiah Augustave alongside Utah transfer Ja'Quinden Jackson.
Though cracking the main rotation during his freshman season will be difficult, don’t count out Russell from becoming the next star-caliber Arkansas running back in his career.
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